King Stag (König Hirsch)

Fragmentary world premiere September 23rd, 1956

Berliner Festwochen · Städtische Oper

Production: Leonard Steckel
Stage design Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
Conductor Hermann Scherchen

First transmission October 4th, 1957

RAI · Orchestra e coro di Torino della RAI

Chiormaster Ruggero Machini
Conductor Nino Sanzogno

Scenic world premiere May 5th, 1985 Stuttgart

Württembergische Staatsoper

Production Hans Hollmann
Stage design Hans Hoffer
Costume design Frida Parmeggiani
Chiormaster Ulrich Eistert
Conductor Dennis Russell Davies

Baroque mechanical theatre, surrealism, the circus, theatre unleashed, music unleashed.

Indian myth of the changing human mind, transformation, metamorphosis. Princes and clowns appear, usurpers, brought down by sleepy marksmen, liberators and lovers.

“King Stag” is an opera about freedom In its original form this piece should only be performed in its entirety with no cuts of any sort.

Hans Werner Henze

The scene is set in a southern European landcape – a Venice between woods and sea

Sul palco

1 Flauto
1 Clarinetto
4 Corni
3 Trombe
Triangolo
Piatto sospeso
Piatti a due

Tamburino
2 Tamburi piccoli
Tamburo militare
Grancassa
Glockenspiel
Vibrafono
Campanelli

10 Campane tubolari
Celesta
Organo
Mandolino
1 Violino